Three Wyoming middle-school girls shared their love of science with Vice President Dick Cheney, also from Wyoming, on Wednesday during a White House visit. The girls, in Washington, D.C., as part of the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration program to promote women in science and technical fields, presented Cheney with a NOAA Weather Radio and a NOAA weather T-shirt.

NOAA Acting Administrator Scott Gudes, who joined the students at the White House, said, "These young women are role models themselves. This is what NOAA is about—science, service and mentoring the next generation of scientists."

The students-Amy Lenell, Amanda Martin and Eddy Miller-were chosen for the trip by the Laramie County (Wyo.) School District based on their drive and energy in organizing the 3rd Annual Women in Science Forum in Cheyenne. The local Women in Science Forum is designed to mentor and encourage girls in grades K-12 to consider pursuing careers in science, math and technology.

"I think that NOAA and the Women in Science program is a great example of how women can do a lot more," said Amanda Martin. "Sometimes I think we're ranked by how we can do stuff compared to men. I think we can all be equal if we had a chance. And that's what this program is trying to do - give women a chance to have that equal opportunity. I plan on going into a science career - marine biology or being a veterinarian. This trip has been a real experience."

"NOAA and the Women in Science program has helped us meet all these amazing people and we've been able to do all these amazing things - even meeting the Vice President," said Eddy Miller. "I have always been interested in astronomy, so the visit to the Naval Observatory and seeing the 100-year-old telescope was really cool."

"I've been interested in science for a while, so NOAA's trip and the Women in Science program helped me along," said Amy Lenell. "I think it will help the balance between men and women in the sciences. In the long term it'll be good for everybody because you have more ideas and a better range of thinking."

Evelyn Abbot, assistant principal at Carey Junior High School and the students' chaperone said, "The Women in Science program helps students consider possibilities that weren't there when I was their age. These experiences and gained knowledge gives them the confidence to take their personal interests in science and do something professional with them. In this program they learn so much, and that's what's exciting."

Women in Science is an outgrowth of the adopt-a-school project that NOAA's Cheyenne National Weather Service staff started with Carey Junior High in 1998. The students assume major roles in helping plan and promote each year's WIS Forum. This year, the Cheyenne Kiwanis Club and Frontier Refinery, Inc. helped organize the event.

During their five-day expedition in Washington, D.C., the students toured NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction, where scientists prepare the nation's long-range weather and climate forecasts. They met with women scientists and technical experts from NOAA, who offered advice about how to best prepare for future careers in various scientific fields. The students also visited some of the nations top science-oriented attractions, including the Air and Space Museum, the National Zoo and the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Tuesday, the girls met Wyoming's U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and Craig Thomas and U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin for a tour of the U.S. Capitol.

To read more and see photos from the girls' science adventures in the nation's capital, visit http://www.crh.noaa.gov/cys.